The Philippines

the long version

This volume is primarily an effort at interpretation, rather than narration, of Philippine history. It therefore presents and discusses long-term themes and trends instead of details of historical incidents. This approach enabled me to formulate a few quite interesting propositions, such as the crucial importance of the development of sedentary agriculture to the successful Christianization of the Philippines, and the role of early missionary Christianity as a vehicle of social and technological change rather than of spiritual enlightenment. - Preface.